90-Second Read: DHS: Hantavirus risk in Wisconsin is low

According to the state Department of Health Services, there were no Wisconsin passengers on the Atlantic cruise ship where a Hantavirus outbreak originated. Meanwhile, neighboring Illinois is investigating a potential Hantavirus case in Winnebago County, Illinois, which is near the Wisconsin state line. The strain of Hantavirus involved in the cruise ship outbreak is the Andes strain.

The state has no known cases, but DHS is preparing to help local health departments if a traveler arrives in Wisconsin who needs to be monitored. Health officials say that person isn't connected to the cruise ship outbreak. DHS says Hantaviruses are a rare family of viruses, usually spread to humans by rodents.

While Hantavirus is rare, it is not new, so medical professionals have plenty of information about it. The DHS says it's monitoring information coming from international and national experts, and DHS is preparing to support local health departments if any travelers arrive in Wisconsin and need to be monitored. They traveled internationally and were possibly exposed while cleaning a home that had rodent droppings.